River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-01-27
The average assessed valuation for the

hofste Der o. 40
Mules per ............... 1920
NoNbi per htIu lf.oU
and other property in proportion.
Three years ago the total assessed valu-
alton of the town of Park (theS. w. town
in the county, was sl3,oJO, and in 1886 it
was $l3S,G27. The total levy of all county
tax is but mills, two of which is terrific
rial and two for county school, leaving
but three mills for general, bridge, poor,
and court house funds. The balance in
the treasury last October was $32, 900, on
the eve of the delinquent tax sale, and
the tax of 1886. The total indebtedness
of the county is $25 900.
The public and private improvements
in the county have been unusually large
for the past season, with the exception of
breaking The season was SO dry that
but little was done.
Two trunk lines of railroad have been
built through the county and are running
one train day each way on each road,
so that the south part of the county,
which last winter was from thirty to forty
miles from market, has now two COM
peting roads within from one to eight
eight miles, on which are built thirteen
elevators.
Many of my correspondents ask if the
country is fit to live in, and if would not
gladly return to Wisconsin? Now, may
not be competent judge as to refinement
and other fashionable luxuries. but as
far as moral, physical, intellectual, edu-
cational and financial interests go, think
that Dakota is ahead of Wisconsin, or any
of the old states, for several reasons
Morals in the old settled states become
fossilized; people become selfish and
jealous, and while they have a show of life
they are more than half dead. The at
mosphere of Dakota has much to do in
all the above mentioned conditions; it is
very favorable to the physical forces, and
where these are lacking everything else
drags. These forces create activity ,-the
mind is clear to comprehend, not only our
own advantages, but that of others,-and
enlarges the intellectual, which sees the
importance of education. Our soil res
ponds to its cultivation, and while we
throw away more than the same number
at the East live on, we enjoy our reck-
lessness. We are equal socially, but there
is no room for dude or dudess. If our
great moguls in congress would give us a
chance to make our own laws and use our
own property, by admitting Dakota as a
whole, it would be the greatest State in
the Union in five years, with all our dis
advantages.
The curse of the world has had full
sway in this county, mean the licensed
sale of Intoxicating drink; but at the an
nual meeting of the County Board of
Supervisors last week, it was voted that
no liquor license be granted by said
board. While this action meets with a
hearty approval by the better class of
citizens, the saloon keepers and the lower
class sulk and curse. Several counties in
the Territory have taken like action.
A few figures in relation to the educa-
tional part ofDakota's progress, will show
that something is being done for the
rising generation. During the school
year of 1885, that is from July l, 1884, to
June so, 1885, pupils enrolled in the
schools of the Territory lover and under
20 years of age) was 5000, at an average
cost for tuition per week of 1928. The
number of teachers employed was 4,l45,
at an average salary per month OF $34.76.
The value of permanent school property
was 81, l86,S50. The expenditures for
the year was 81 ,594, 695, a greater expedi-
ture than Of any twenty-five states we
could mention.
Dakota's comparative growth is no less
remarkable. In 1873, the number en-
rolled in the public schools was 1855, and
the expenditures but $59,793 for the same
year. The expenditures for the Univer-
sity at Vermillion was $50, 400; University
at Grand Forks. S4S,7 200; Normal School
at Madison, $4,000; Agricultural College
at Brookings, 1888, 200; Normal School at
Spearfish, $500; Deaf Mute Institute at
Sank Falls, $1,000.
john MCMILLAN.